Armstrong at East Crater

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first to walk on the Moon. During their 2-hour EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) they collected samples and set up experiments. Armstrong walked about 60 meters from their Lunar Module, the Eagle, to East Crater, about 30 meters wide and 4 meters deep. He had piloted the Eagle over the boulder-filled crater to a smooth site on the Sea of Tranquility. The object in the middle foreground is a stereo camera he used to take 3-D close-up images of rocks and soil.

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Mark Pestana

Mark Pestana is a research pilot and project manager at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, CA. He also serves as adjunct faculty in the aerospace safety program at the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering. He has flown Earth science missions through hurricanes, mapped fault lines, measured rain forest health, and sampled atmospheric pollution. He previously served as a flight crew operations engineer in the NASA Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, developing crew interfaces and procedures for the International Space Station and the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Mark retired from the US Air Force Reserve as a Colonel, and served as a space operations engineer, NORAD orbit analyst, and as a Command Pilot flying over 5000 hours in over 30 aircraft types, and logging 213 combat reconnaissance sorties. Awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Air Medal (9), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He earned a BS in Natural Sciences and an MS in Systems Management/Research & Development. Mark is a member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists, the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, the American Society of Aviation Artists, and the U.S. Air Force Art Program. Ten of his paintings are in the Pentagon collection. Among many awards, he received First Place in the 2007 Aviation Week & Space Technology Magazine’s art competition, Space category. He also has the unique distinction of designing nine Space Shuttle mission patches for the astronauts. He is a board member of the non-profit Arts, Science, and Technology Corporation, providing volunteer support and education services in science, technology, engineering, arts/agriculture, and math (STEAM). He is a part-time actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild, appearing in several TV productions and one feature film…so far.
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